Who ever said that Bruins vs Canadiens games were ever boring? When these two teams match up, it’s like Red Sox-Yankees. Well, it’s not quite that intense, but there is certainly some bad blood between the two teams. Saturday, the two historic franchises clashed yet again and definitely didn’t disappoint.

Montreal got up quick with a 2-0 lead after the first period and never looked back. The Bruins added a goal and then the Canadiens added a goal, and then the Bruins added a goal, and then the Canadiens held onto the lead and the Bruins lost 3-2.

The loss dropped Boston to 30-25-12 (72 points) on the season, while Montreal improved to 35-29-6 (76 points). The Bruins currently hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot as they are three points ahead of the New York Rangers.

Jaroslav Halak was stellar in goal for the Canadiens as he was able to stop 21 of 23 shots on goal. Tuukka Rask looked good for the Bruins but he still let up three goals off of 27 shots on goal.

Just before the period ended, Sergei Kostitsyn added a goal for himself, his fourth of the year. He was assisted by Markov and Dominic Moore on the play. Canadiens up 2-0

Second Period

The Bruins came out of the first intermission ready to play, as Blake Wheeler scored his 16th goal of the season just over a minute into the period. He was assisted by Michael Ryder and David Krejci on the play. Canadiens up 2-1

Both teams played tough for the rest of the period, racking up the penalties but neither team could find the back of the net in the period.

Third Period

S. Kostitsyn added his second goal of the night and fifth of the season less than two minutes into the third period to give Montreal a two-goal lead. He was assisted by former Bruin Hal Gill and Moore. Canadiens up 3-1

The Bruins attempted a comeback with Milan Lucic scoring his seventh goal of the season a little more than halfway through the period. He was assisted by Vladimir Sobotka on the play. Canadiens up 3-2

The Bruins will next travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils on Monday. It will be their sixth game of a current seven-game road trip. So far, the team is 2-3 on the trip.

Game Notes

Both teams had 10 penalty minutes for the game.

Boston led in hits, 28-to-17, and also in face-offs won, 28-to-26.

The Bruins struggled on the power play as they went 0-for-3 while the Canadiens went 1-for-3, with that one goal being the difference maker in the game.

Discussion

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[...] over the weekend. The Bruins couldn’t do enough to keep pace with the Canadiens Saturday, losing 3-2, while the Devils fell to the lowly Islanders, 4-2. New Jersey’s had an odd march through their [...]